Joseph ayers administrator



(Nd Model.) 2 sheetsshee t 1.

GT. MAAG. TROLLBY ARM AND ATTACHMENT THEREFOR.

No. 544,677. Patented Aug. 20, 1895.

Adv-3 I i WM GEORGE MAAG.

BY JALACG TTO NEY (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

I G. MAAG.. A I TROLLBY ARM AND ATTACHMENT THEREFOR. No. 544,677. Pate-nt 'dAug, 20, 1895'.

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INVENTOR GEORGE MAAQ- film m TORN WITNESSES. Q .2%

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE ,MAAG, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY; JOSEPH AYERS ADMINISTRATOR OF SAID MAAG, DECEASED.

TROLLEY-ARM AND ATTACHMENT THEREFOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 544,677, dated August 20, 1895. Application filed December 12, 1894.- Serial No- 1 (N0 modem sey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Trolley-Arms and Attachments Therefor; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, andexact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, and tolet ters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in trolley-arms for electric-railway systems prowire, said device serving as a guide to retain the trolley-wheel at all times in its operative contact with the wire. Much difficulty has hitherto been encountered to retain the trolley-wheel in perfect contact with the trolleywire and to prevent its j umping the wire when 1 passing over switches, cross-overs, or other unevenness, such as passing around curves, and.

to overcome such difficulties is the principle object of my present invention.

The invention therefore consists, broadly,:

in the arrangement. and construction of a trolley pole or arm formed in sections, connected by a flexible joint or joints, whereby the trolley-wheel on the one section will antomatically adapt itself to any unevenness and curves in the wire and will always follow the same without any dangerof the displacement of the trolley-wheel therefrom.

The invention furthermore consists in certain other minor arrangements and combinations of parts, such as will be hereinafter more fully described, and finally embodied in the clauses of the claims.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying sheets of drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of a trolleywheel and a suflicient portion of the trolleyarm, comprising therein two sections and a ball-and-socket joint, forming a flexible joint; and Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section of the same, taken at a right angle to the plane of view of the figure illustrated in Fig. 1. Figs. 3 and 4 are perspective views of certain bushings or collars used in the construction illustrated in said Fig. 2. Figs. 5 and 6 are a side elevation and a longitudinal vertical section, respectively, of a trolley-arm, comprising therein three sections connected by flexible joints embodying the principles of myliuvention.

Similar letters of reference are employed in each of the above-described views to indicate corresponding parts.

Referring 'to the drawings, A indicates the trolley-arm, comprising therein two or more separable sections a, which are connected by a flexible joint B, as will be more fully described hereinafter. The upper end of the the usual form of forked bearing a to receive aYtrolley-wheel a journaled on the shaft or axle a which-may he of any well-known form or construction, and the trolley-wheel of which bears against the wire in the usual manner.

To maintain at all times a perfect contact of the trolley-wheel a with the trolley-wire and to prevent the said wheel from jumping the wire when passing over switches, crossovers, or when going around curves, I have devised the constructions illustrated herein a. e., I have formed the trolley pole or arm of two or more sections connected by a flexible connection or connections, whereby the upper section of the trolley pole or arm is movable in any direction upon the lower section of the pole.

9 As will be seen from Figs. 1 and 2, the flexible joint-consists, essentially, of a ball-andsocket joint, the lower sleeve 1) of which is secured to the trolley-pole section by means of a screw or pin a. Said sleeve is provided with a suitable shoulder b and terminates-in the ball-shaped portion b Embracing said ball-shaped'portion b is the socket b of the sleeve b secured to the upper trolley-pole section a' by means of a suitable screw or pin 0'. The arrangement and operation of these parts of the flexible joint B will be clearly evident from Fig. 2, providing a rotatable movement of the upper section of the trolleypole on its lower section, whereby the trolleywheel a readily adapts itself to any unevenness in the trolley-wire.

To produce proper stiffness, but still permit the rotatory movement of the parts comprising the flexible joint, I have secured in the lower trolley-pole section, by means of a suitable screw or pin cl, a collar or bushing d, which is provided with a centrally arranged and square hole (1 In said hole 01 of the said bushing is secured the lower end. of a square rod e, of sufficient elasticity to permit its bending or twisting without breaking. Said rod extends up into the upper trolley-arm section and passesinto a square hole d in a bushing or collar 01. secured in said trolley-pole section by a, screw'or pin (1, substantially as illustrated in said. Fig. 2. The upper portion e of said rod 6-, is, loosely arranged in said opening (1 in the bushing d whereby it is capable of a sliding movement therein. To prevent the edges of the said rod e from coming in contact with the inner parts of the ball-and-socket joint I have arranged upon the upper edge a and between the inner surface of the shoulder b of the sleeve b of said joint, a bushing or collar-f, the shoulder f of which is firmly held by said parts, and said bushing is provided with a centrally-arranged hole f the sides. of' which are curved, substantially as illustrated. If desirable, the trolley-pole may be made in three or more sections a, which can baconnected by the coiled springb or the ball-andsocket joint, as will be clearlyevident from an inspection of Figs. 5 and, 6. The opera tion of the parts is precisely the sflmela hat of the parts comprising the constructions illustrated in said Figsrl, and 2. It will be evident that the flexible joint B may be arranged in any suitable portion of the trolley-pole, near the top or near the bottom thereof; as may be desired.

I do not limit myself to the particularrform and construction of the various parts; herein shown and described, as it will be clearly obvious that the same may be varied without departing from the scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. A trolley arm, composed of tubular sections, a flexible joint connectingsaid, sections, a flexible rod within said sections, and means for securing said rod inposit-ion in said sections, substantially as and for the purposes. set forth.

2. A trolley arm, composed of tubular sec tions, a ball and socket joint connecting said sections, a flexible rod within said sections, and means for securing said rod in position in said sections, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. A trolleyarm, composed of tubular sections, a flexible joint connecting said sections, a flexible rod within said sections, and means for securing said rod in position in said sections, consisting essentially, of collars or bush-.

flexible joint connecting said sections, collars or bushingscl' and d in said sections, a fiexi- .ble rod arranged in holes in said bushings, and abushing, as fiall substantially as and forthe purposesv set forth.

6. The herein described trolley arm, consisting essentially, of tubular sections, as a, a ball and socket j ointjcounectingsaid sections, comprising therein the sleeves b and b a shoulder b on said sleeve b, a bushing f arrangedand heldin position, on theupperedge of; one of said trolley pole sections and by the inner edge of said, shoulder b, a flexible rod e, and means for securing the same in posi* tion, within said trolley-pole sections, substantiallyi as and for.- the purposes set forth.

7. Thonherein described trolley arm, consist-ing; essentially, of tubular sections, as a, a ballandsocket joint connecting said sections, comprising; therein the sleeves Z7 and 11 a shoulder'b on said sleeve 1), a bushing f arranged and held in position on the upper edge of one of, said trolley pole sections and by the inner edge of said shoulder b, a flexible rod e, and. means for securing the same in position withinsaid trolley pole sections, consisting essentially, of collarsor bushings d and (1 substantially asand for the purposes set forth.

In testimony that I claim the invention set forth above Ihave hereunto set my hand this 8th day ofDecember, 1894.

GEORGE MAAG. Witnesses:

FREDK. C. FRAENTZEL, EMIL BEYER. 

